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Most Recent Articles In Memo Pad
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THE SEARCH GOES ON, AND ON, AND ON: It’s been a while now since Carol Smith jumped from Elle and fashion to food and Condé Nast and, still, there is no news of who will succeed her at her former gig and who will step into the secondary position of publisher of Elle. The Howard-Sloan-Koller Group has been retained for the search, and they are apparently going outside the publishing world to try and find a new chief brand officer that can expand the magazine’s reach and find Elle’s next “Project Runway,” as well as take it into other product categories beyond publishing. Trouble is, those that have talked to Elle so far say there are a few crucial sticking points to contend with: namely, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. chief executive officer Alain Lemarchand, who’s been described as functioning more as a chief financial officer and who, insiders say, is still not well versed in the American magazine publishing business, even after moving to the U.S. from Paris about 18 months ago to become U.S. ceo.
Meanwhile, in addition to Anne Janas, who recently said she would leave her role as senior vice president, corporate communications at Hachette, the company is also losing Thomas Masterson, senior vice president, consumer marketing and manufacturing. As Elle continues to search for some new blood, longtime Elle veteran and vice president, brand publisher Anne Welch continues to serve as acting chief brand officer. — Amy Wicks


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DANIA, Fla. -- Places to Go is on the move. The tour operator
appointed a new management team, unveiled a logo and beefed up its
The company also is aiming to get the attention of Caribbean
tourist boards, airlines, resorts and hotel associations as well as
U.S. retailers, particularly in South Florida.
About a year ago, Places to Go was purchased by Windfair
Hospitality, a Toronto-based firm, which owns several
tourism-related companies. Place to Go was dormant for a year until
Windfair came up to the plate.
As part of the reorganization, Mark Steward came aboard as
managing director in March. Steward, who previously held manager of
product development posts at Adventure Tours USA and Club America
Vacations, has set out to get Places to Go noticed.
He said the firm is focusing on its Caribbean product. It added
Curacao to its line-up as well as Cancun, Mexico.
He also said Places to Go is turning its attention to the South
Florida market. The operator wants to build relationships with
tourist boards and the trade community in this region. One of his
first initiatives was having a Places to Go representative attend
local tourist board functions. Another plan is to host a series of
breakfast seminars for agents in major Florida cities through Oct.
Steward said that Places to Go has developed a strong
relationship with Curacao. The firm is offering packages to many of
the island's events, including its gospel and heritage festivals.
At the end of August, the operator held an open house in
conjunction with Curacao, which attracted 50 travel agents.
Places to Go also offers air-inclusive packages to Aruba,
Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and the Bahamas, including the
The operator has a full-time staff of 10, and education is a
priority for Seward. He said that because of the company's small
size, the reservationists are becoming destination specialists
"They have been to the islands and experienced restaurants,
hotels and attractions. They are destination specialists who can
help agents help their clients."
The operator also plans to increase its marketing efforts by
participating in co-op ads. Places to Go already started a series
of radio promotions in South Florida.
The operator's commissions start at 11% and increase to 15%. "We
want to cater to the travel agents' needs, make them feel
comfortable, and for that special client they have, we want to be
their tour operator," Steward said.Curacao getaways on tap
DANIA, Fla. -- Places to Go is offering three-night getaways to
Prices start at $499 per person, double, for a stay at the
Princess Beach Resort & Casino. For a stay at Kadushi Cliffs
Resort, the rate is $629.
The packages include roundtrip air from Miami, transfers and
hotel tax and service charges. Air is available from New York for
an additional $99 and from Chicago for an extra $139.
Places to GoOperator schedules seminar series
Phone: (800) 775-2237
Fax: (954) 924-6260
DANIA, Fla. -- Places to Go is sponsoring a series of breakfast
seminars to introduce its fall packages and winter brochure for the
The seminars will be held in major Florida cities through Oct.
5. Cities and dates follow:Sept. 14 in Orlando at the Radisson Plaza Ivanhoe.Sept. 15 in Melbourne/Cocoa Beach at the Hilton Cocoa
Beach.Sept. 16 in Coral Gables at the Hyatt Regency.Sept. 28 in Tampa at the Hyatt Regency.Sept. 29 in Sarasota at the Hyatt Regency.Sept. 30 in Fort Myers at the Radisson Inn Fort Myers.Oct. 5 in Jacksonville at the Radisson Riverwalk Hotel.
Places to Go
Phone: (800) 775-2237 or (954) 924-1502

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JJB Sports has appointed former Safeway director Lawrence Christensen CBE as non-executive director.
Christensen, who was also supply chain director and managing director of convenience at Sainsburys, will take up the role on November 1 following a consultancy project with Australian retailer Coles.
JJB Sports chairman Mike McTighe said: “Lawrence’s operational knowledge, as well as his experience as a director at other retail companies will be warmly welcomed at JJB.”
The struggling sportswear retailer this month appointed Richard Bernstein, director at one of its largest shareholders Crystal Amber, to its board.
The retailer - which secured a second company voluntary arrangement in March, allowing it to exit 43 loss-making stores over the next year - is set to unveil its preliminary results next Wednesday.


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(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The car business has a rich history of mavericks. Lee Iacocca brought Chrysler Corp. back from the brink in the 1980s. Alan Mulally mortgaged Ford Motor Co.’s blue oval to steer away from bankruptcy in 2008. Carlos Ghosn had that magic-trunk trick. When it comes to the new age of electrics and autonomy, Tesla Inc. can only be understood as an extension of Elon Musk.
So news that Doug Field has defected from Apple Inc.’s vehicle project to Ford, broken Tuesday by Bloomberg News, is a big deal. Field isn’t coming in as CEO, of course; he’ll report to Jim Farley as chief advanced technology and embedded systems officer. But his pedigree in all the new stuff Farley wants Ford to lead in is formidable.
Having begun his career at Ford, Field has since worked for inventor Dean Kamen at DEKA Research and Development Corp. and Segway Inc., done two stints for Apple, and was a senior engineer and one of a handful of named executive officers at Tesla, overseeing the rollout of the Model 3. Granted, that ended on something of a bum note, with production difficulties, a weird email to employees imploring them to “prove a bunch of haters wrong” and an extended leave of absence and exit.
The hopeful read of that last one is that Field should be well aware of the perils of mass auto manufacturing (he no doubt gained some valuable scars with Segway, too). In any case, he brings a hybrid of Detroit and Silicon Valley experience and contacts to Ford. He has intimate knowledge of the ambitions and capabilities of a formidable competitor, Tesla, and a potentially formidable competitor, Apple. His departure from the latter might suggest that particular competitive threat remains far off, but who knows? After all, if turnover in the senior ranks spelled doom, then Tesla would have been finished years ago.
Above all, Field’s arrival at Ford signals intent. Incumbent automakers, including Ford, have gotten a taste of the Tesla magic this year, enjoying sharp rallies after announcing a big push into electric vehicles and AI.
It’s just a taste, though, with the euphoria wearing off quickly. Ford’s current earnings multiple of eight times is decent enough compared to history but remains more Michigan than California.
Bringing in Field to build Ford’s digital, connected-car capabilities reaffirms the company’s commitment to the transformation, regardless. It’s also a way of leveraging its existing model line-up, long before electrification takes over. Besides the hoopla over the F-150 Lightning electric truck, Ford is scoring quiet wins in mundane stuff such as build-to-order manufacturing and lean inventory. The Mustang Mach-E is, remarkably, profitable already, according to the company. Meanwhile, Ford’s autonomy partner, Argo AI, continues to expand its already wide testing network.
Does this guarantee success? Of course not; this is the car business, folks. It takes a lot of things to go right to produce just one model that sets hearts racing, let alone reengineer an entire industry (see this). Still, you don’t get anywhere without at least appearing to be serious about it. The most immediate advantage Ford gains from hiring Field is that it can now say Ford is the sort of place where someone like Field wants to work.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy, mining and commodities. He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journal's Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times' Lex column. He was also an investment banker.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.


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Sporting Kansas City's Collin has red card rescinded
Sporting Kansas City defender Aurelien Collin has had his red card received on the weekend rescinded.
Upon viewing the footage, it has been established that the player who made high contact with a Revs opponent was in fact Birahim Diop.
As a result, Collin will not be suspended for the next league match. Further, Diop cannot be issued a red card retroactively, and was not sanctioned by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.


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Li-Ion Battery Pack Prices Rise by 7% from 2021 to 2022
After more than a decade of declines, volume-weighted average prices for Li-Ion battery packs across all sectors have increased to $151/kWh in 2022, a 7% rise from last year in real terms, according to the BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) annual battery price survey report.
December 09, 2022. By Manu Tayal
Rising raw material and battery component prices and soaring inflation have led to the first ever increase in lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery pack prices since BNEF began tracking the market in 2010.
The upward cost pressure on batteries outpaced the higher adoption of lower cost chemistries like lithium iron phosphate (LFP). BNEF expected that prices to stay at similar levels next year, further defying historical trends.
The above figures represent an average across multiple battery end-uses, including different types of electric vehicles (EVs), buses and stationary storage projects. For battery electric vehicle (BEV) packs in particular, prices were $138/kWh on a volume-weighted average basis in 2022, added the report.
At the cell level, average BEV prices were just $115/kWh. This indicates that on average, cells account for 83% of the total pack price. Over the last three years, the cell-to-pack cost ratio has diverged from the traditional 70:30 split. This is partially due to changes to pack design, such as the introduction of cell-to-pack approaches, which have helped reduce costs.
On a regional basis, battery pack prices were cheapest in China, at $127/kWh. Packs in the US and Europe were 24% and 33% higher, respectively. Higher prices reflect the relative immaturity of these markets, the higher production costs, the diverse range of applications and battery imports. For the higher end of the range, low volume and bespoke orders push prices up.
Prices could have risen further in 2022 had it not been for the higher adoption of the low-cost cathode chemistry known as LFP, and the continued reduction of expensive cobalt in nickel-base cathodes. On average, LFP cells were 20% cheaper than lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cells in 2022. However, even low-cost chemistries like LFP, which is particularly exposed to lithium carbonate prices, have felt the bite of rising costs throughout the supply chain. LFP battery pack prices rose 27% in 2022, compared to 2021.
Evelina Stoikou, an energy storage associate at BNEF and lead author of the report, said: “Raw material and component price increases have been the biggest contributors to the higher cell prices observed in 2022. Amidst these price increases for battery metals, large battery manufacturers and automakers have turned to more aggressive strategies to hedge against volatility, including direct investments in mining and refining projects.”
While prices for key battery metals like lithium, nickel and cobalt have moderated slightly in recent months, BNEF expects average battery pack prices to remain elevated in 2023 at $152/kWh (in real 2022 dollars).
BNEF expects battery price to start dropping again in 2024, when lithium prices are expected to ease as more extraction and refining capacity comes online. Based on the updated observed learning rate, BNEF’s 2022 Battery Price Survey predicts that average pack prices should fall below $100/kWh by 2026. This is two years later than previously expected and will negatively impact the ability for automakers to produce and sell mass-market EVs in areas without subsidies or other forms of support. Higher battery prices could also hurt the economics of energy storage projects.
Yayoi Sekine, head of energy storage at BNEF, said, “Despite a setback on price declines, battery demand is still reaching new records each year. Demand will reach 603GWh in 2022, which is almost double that in 2021. Scaling up supply at that rate of growth is a real challenge for the industry, but investment in the sector is also rising rapidly and technology innovation is not slowing down.”
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India updated its solar energy targets to 280 GW by 2030
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Advanced battery technologies gaining prominence in India's energy storage sector


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2 0 2 1 R E A L E S T A T E E D I T I O N
Shrinking inventory, RISING PRICES
Home sales increased in all 7 Lake Houston-area ZIP codes from June 2020-May 2021 compared to the year prior. A LOCAL LOOK The average Lake Houston-area home sold for $20,000$30,000 more over the past year than it did the year prior.
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land market has record-low inventory and active listings, while the median cost of home sales has risen.
Total number of listings
Median sales prices
$175,000 $150,000 $275,000 $250,000 $300,000 $225,000 $200,000 $125,000 $100,000 0
45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0
The average time a house spent on the market was shortened by 20DAYS compared to the year prior.
SOURCE: HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
we were going to overcommit and not be able to deliver the Highland [Homes] experience,” he said. “So we made the decision to pull back.” Additionally, Draughn said many builders are implementing escalation clauses, which specify if building materials increase by a certain percent- age, the homebuyer will be responsible for paying the higher cost. However, Draughn said Highland Homes is not one of those builders. “When somebody buys a house, that’s a big pur- chase, and we want to give them something they can depend on, so we’ve eaten the cost,” he said. However, Rose Miller said the rising cost of new homes has breathed new life into resales. “Existing houses have been able to complete with new construction because the new construction for the same oor plan is so much higher,” she said. Cost of living Industry experts have historically touted the Greater Houston area as one of the most aordable places to live nationwide. However, Draughn said with so many people looking to move to the area, builders have been unable to keep up. “The housing market has been underbuilt by close to 400,000 units a year for the past 14 years,” he said. “If all major builders increased their sales and production by 10%, it would still take about eight or nine years to hit equilibrium. But that’s nationwide. ... It’s two to three times worse [here].” However, Draughn said the local real estate mar- ket is still less pressured and costly than other major Texas markets, such as Austin, where Draughn said a neighborhood with 40-50 available houses garners a waiting list of 350-400 potential buyers. “We sell the same house in Austin for $100,000- $150,000 more just because land, materials and labor cost that much more there,” he said. Because consumer demand is the driving force behind escalated price tags, Rose Miller said she sus- pects the new cost of living is here to stay. “It’s like a rubber band; it stretches, and there may be some adjustment, but it won’t go back to how it was,” she said. Danica Lloyd contributed to this report.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Decrease in total listings from May 2019-May 2021 55.1% Decrease in months of inventory since May 2019 2.6 Increase in median home sales price since May 2019 +$51K
MARCH24&27: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough issue stay-at-home orders for county residents.
Months of inventory: Indicates the number of months it would take to sell all properties currently for sale at the average monthly sales price
SOURCE: TEXAS A&M REAL ESTATE RESEARCH CENTER COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Supply and demand Due to a rise in demand for construction mate- rials, 84% of contractors nationwide have faced supply shortages, and 94% said cost uctuations have aected their businesses, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly Commercial Con- struction Index report released June 17. “People had nothing better to do [during COVID- 19] than stay home and decide they want to buy a new house or remodel,” said Mike Dishberger, CEO of Houston-based Sandcastle Homes and former Greater Houston Builders Association president. “So demand has exceeded supply, and when that hap- pens, prices rise.” For example, Dishberger said plywood cost $7 per sheet in April 2020 and was up to $50 per sheet this June. A recent copper shortage increased the price of his electrical materials by 25%, he added. Similarly, Draughn said brick that Highland Homes used to buy for $2,000 now costs upward of $6,000. He said construction on one of his inventory homes in The Groves, a 993-acre community under development in Humble, has been delayed by two months due to tile unavailability. “It’s denitely slowed us down,” he said. “We used to do contract to move in, in less than four months; we’re at six to eight months now.” In hopes of providing consistent customer ser- vice, Draughn said Highland Homes has limited the number of homes he can sell to three per month. “It’s gotten so hard to get [laborers] and materials … that if we kept selling at the pace we were selling,
to data from the Texas A&M University Texas Real Estate Center. Simultaneously, home sales increased by over 10% from May 2019 to May 2021—a trend industry experts attributed to lowmortgage interest rates, which dropped to 2.65% in January. As a result, the Greater Houston area sat at 1.4 months of housing inventory in April and May—the area’s lowest inventory since the center began tracking data in 1990. Months of inventory indicates the number of months it would take to sell all properties currently for sale at the average monthly sales price. “It’s kind of the perfect storm,” said Walter Draughn, a Highland Homes sales counselor for The Groves. “It’s never all come together like this—one or two things at a time, yes—but not all at once.” Locally, home sales increased in all seven Lake Houston-area ZIP codes from June 2020-May 2021 compared to the year prior, according to Houston Association of Realtors data. Additionally, the aver- age home sold for $20,000-$30,000 more over the past year than it did the year prior, and the average time spent on the market was shortened by 20 days. “There’s no question it’s a seller’s market; you can’t spin it any other way,” said Deborah Rose Miller, a broker/agent with Rose Realty and HAR’s 2021 Lake Houston-area networking meeting chair. Further fueling the re, Draughn said about one- third of all relocations in the U.S. are coming to Texas. As a result, builders are trying to keep up with a growing demand for inventory amid material shortages that bog down the process.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • JULY 2021
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Should You Acquire Bitcoin?
As the world’s current entrance runner in the Crypto Forex industry, Bitcoin have been generating some significant headlines, and some critical fluctuations in the final six months. Nearly absolutely everyone has heard of them, and nearly absolutely everyone has an viewpoint. Some are unable to fathom the idea that a currency with any worth can be created from nothing, even though some enjoy the idea that some thing with out Federal government handle can be traded as a useful entity in its own correct.
In which you sit on the “Need to I Get Bitcoin?” fence most likely eventually boils down to one particular query: Can I Make Money from Bitcoin?
Can You Make Money from Bitcoin?
In just the last 6 months, we have observed the price tag go from $twenty a coin in February, up to $260 a coin in April, back down to $sixty in March, and back up to $130 in May possibly. The cost has now settled to around $100 a Bitcoin, but what takes place up coming is anyone’s guess.
Bitcoin’s long term in the end rests on two key variables: its adoption as a currency by a wide viewers, and the absence of prohibitive Government intervention.
The Bitcoin neighborhood is increasing speedily, fascination in the Crypto forex has distribute drastically on the internet, and new providers are accepting Bitcoin payments increasingly. Running a blog giant, WordPress, accepts Bitcoin payments, and African based cellular software supplier, Kipochi, have created a Bitcoin wallet that will enable Bitcoin payments on cell telephones in establishing nations.
We have currently observed folks make hundreds of thousands on the currency. We are observing rising figures of men and women experimenting with residing only on Bitcoin for months on stop, whilst recording the knowledge for documentary viewing.
You can get a takeaway in Boston, coffee in London, and even a couple of cars on Craigslist using Bitcoin. Searches for Bitcoin have rocketed in 2013, with April’s hike and subsequent tumble in the Bitcoin price. Very last week the initial huge acquisition of a Bitcoin company was produced for SatoshiDice, an on-line gambling site, for 126,315 BTC (about $eleven.forty seven million), by an undisclosed purchaser.
This quick development in recognition and uptake seems to be set to carry on, if trust in the forex stays robust. Which leads to the next dependency. Authorities regulation.
Despite the fact that especially developed to perform independently from Authorities control, Bitcoin will inevitably be affected by Governments in some way. This must be the case for two motives.
To start with, to achieve higher amounts of adoption, Bitcoin will have to be available to large quantities of folks, and that implies spreading past the realms of hidden transactions to normal everyday transactions for individuals and firms. Secondly, these Bitcoin transactions could grow to be a trackable part of people’s taxable wealth, to be declared and regulated together with any other type of prosperity.
The European Union has previously declared that Bitcoin is not classed as a Fiat currency, or as funds, and as these kinds of, will not be regulated in its very own correct. In the US, the fifty condition program and variety of bureaucratic bodies included has inevitably created choices far more hard, with no consensus attained as a result much. Bitcoin is not deemed to be cash as this sort of, but it is deemed to act like income.
links of bitcoin exchanges flourishing Bitcoin market in the US has a much more unsure long term for now, and any conclusive laws in the US could possibly have a quite constructive, or a really adverse influence on the foreseeable future of Bitcoin.
So, Must You Purchase Bitcoin?
The reply depends primarily on how threat averse you are. Bitcoin undoubtedly just isn’t going to be a smooth investment, but the possible of this currency is enormous.


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In a move that has the gaming community buzzing with excitement, Roblox Corporation has announced its much-anticipated debut on PlayStation platforms this October. This strategic expansion promises to bring the immersive universe of Roblox to a broader audience, further solidifying its position as a dominant force in the gaming industry.
Roblox, a platform that allows users to design, share, and play games created by community members, has witnessed exponential growth over the years. Its unique blend of user-generated content and social interaction has garnered a massive, dedicated fanbase. The integration with PlayStation, a titan in the console gaming world, is set to elevate the Roblox experience to new heights.
What Players Can Expect
With the PlayStation launch, players can anticipate a seamless gaming experience, optimized for the console’s capabilities. Enhanced graphics, smoother gameplay, and potential exclusive content are just a few of the perks PlayStation users might enjoy. Moreover, the vast Roblox universe, teeming with millions of interactive games and experiences, will now be accessible from the comfort of one’s living room.
This strategic move is more than just an expansion; it’s a statement. By partnering with PlayStation, Roblox Corporation is signaling its ambition to be more than just a game; it aims to be a global entertainment phenomenon. This collaboration might also pave the way for future partnerships, potentially with other gaming consoles or even streaming platforms.
The announcement has been met with widespread enthusiasm from both Roblox enthusiasts and PlayStation users. Social media platforms are abuzz with speculation, with gamers eagerly discussing the potential game-changers this collaboration might bring. The excitement is palpable, with many counting down the days to the official launch.


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Old-school charm, paired with fresh flavors of the West Coast, Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House has been a go-to for many locals and tourists for the past 35 years. Inspired by San Francisco’s seafood grills and a legendary soul, Joe Fortes – a bartender to the city’s first official lifeguard, the restaurant is celebrating it’s 35th anniversary with a launch of a new happy hour menu!
On Monday (March 2), Joe Fortes is launching a new Happy Hour menu, featuring fan favourites such as mini shrimp and lobster rolls and freshly shucked oysters. Then there’s the Happy Hour version of the iconic Joe’s Seafood Tower on Ice. Priced at $36.95 per tier, it includes Ocean Wise seafood like local oysters, marinated mussels and clams, prawns, albacore tuna crudo, scallop ceviche, and ahi tuna poke.
The Joe Fortes Happy Hour menu will be available in the bar/lounge from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 4 to 6 p.m. on weekends, as well as nightly from 9 p.m. onward.
And of course, cocktails are another must to celebrate the anniversary. Try the new Sticks and Stones, created by Mark “Elvis” Paulhus and Gord Bury.
Happy birthday, Joe Fortes!


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OVERVIEW Four Barrel, a San Francisco-based coffee roastery, is now releasing limited edition bottles of cold brew to raise money and generate awareness for various social justice causes. A portion of proceeds from their latest batch will be donated to the non-profit organization Black Lives Matter, commemorating Black History Month with a release date of February 2019. The client wants a bold visual identity that promotes product sales and also provides information to consumers about this important cause, reinforcing their own brand mission of “improving the lives of people all up and down the coffee chain.”
SOLUTION This special series of bottled coffee is named WOKE, a term originally coined by the Black Lives Matter organization that now refers to general social awareness. The name has a double meaning, also bringing to mind the caffeine-induced alertness one gets from drinking coffee. I created a label focused on clean typography, preserving the Cornerstone typeface and line elements from the Black Lives Matter branding. Strong brand messaging creates visual interest without distracting from the cause, and the stark use of black and white reinforces the sobering issue of police brutality against people of color. Individual victims are honored with their names printed inside the bottle caps and profiles featured on the Four Barrel website.


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OSRAM and Citizen end their patent disputes
OSRAM grants Citizen a license for white LEDs
18.07.2007 | Trade Press
OSRAM GmbH and its subsidiary Opto Semiconductors, signed with Citizen Electronics Co. Ltd. of Japan, one of the leading manufacturers of electronic components, an extensive license agreement. The agreement covers the use of OSRAM intellectual property developments in white LED products of Citizen Electronics, a subsidiary of the famous watchmaker Citizen. This license agreement also puts an end to the disputes between the two companies that has been running since 2005. The way is now open for closer cooperation.
With the license agreement signed today Citizen is granted the right against payment to use OSRAM intellectual property in white LEDs of all sizes, in all output categories and for all areas of application, for example in the automobile sector or for displays and keypads. Dr. Rüdiger Müller, CEO of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors and Gerd Pokorny, General Counsel of OSRAM GmbH said "We are pleased that this agreement signals the end of an dispute and that another renowned LED manufacturer in Citizen Electronics has recognized the importance of our intellectual property."
In 2005, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors filed a lawsuit against Citizen for violation of OSRAM´s intellectual property rights to white LEDs both in Germany and 2006 in the USA. The relevant intellectual property rights protect OSRAM`s invention by which white light is produced by converting blue light using a yellow converter. In addition to signing this license agreement, OSRAM and Citizen are also discussing the possibility of cooperation.
Thanks to its powers of innovation and its broad product range, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors has climbed to number two in the world on the market for LEDs. Just recently the company announced that it will be expanding its production sites in Penang/Malaysia and its main plant in Regensburg/Germany. Among other things, a new production line is currently being built in Penang for LED chips.


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That’s what Financo Inc. intends to convey at its annual forum today at the Harmonie Club, 4 East 60th Street, even though mobile technology and online sales dominated the retail dialogue last year.
“Stores remain the showcase for brands,” said Colin Welch, Financo’s president and chief operating officer. “People aren’t talking enough about the future of stores, which are critical to the lifestyle positioning that many brands seek to achieve.”
Financo forums have a history of taking some interesting turns and today’s installment should be no exception. Financo’s chairman Gilbert Harrison, chief executive officer John Berg and Welch want to keep the agenda focused on stores and how they will evolve, on how online and mobile technologies can support the brick-and-mortar business and the convergence of the channels. They also expect the panelists to tackle such topics as global growth and which regions are ripe, and “high-low” shopping, which is about consumers creating outfits that mix couture looks with moderate styles, like a Chanel jacket and an H&M jean, to reflect more of their personal style.
The Financo executives pointed out in an interview at their Madison Avenue offices last week that stores will always account for the lion’s share of retail revenues. It’s estimated at roughly 90 percent currently and the rate of online sales growth, while still robust, began to slow last year. According to ComScore Inc., which tracks the digital world, online sales gains for the November to December period rose a healthy 13.8 percent but came in short of the 16 percent expected.
In a break from the past, the Financo Forum won’t feature the usual retail suspects. This year’s panel will include Paul Blum, the new ceo of Juicy Couture who is charged with reinvigorating the once red-hot label; Lew Frankfort, chairman and ceo of Coach Inc., who was ranked 21st on the Harvard Business Review’s list of the best-performing ceo’s in the world, and Eric Wiseman, chairman, president and ceo of VF Corp., one of the best-run fashion conglomerates with about two dozen brands under its umbrella including The North Face, Wrangler, Lee and Timberland.
Danny Meyer, founder and ceo of the Union Square Hospitality Group, will be on the panel as well. He’s been rolling out Shake Shacks, and has a portfolio of fine-dining establishments including the Modern, Gramercy Tavern and Maialino, a Roman-style trattoria in the Gramercy Park Hotel. On the surface, Meyer seems like a choice out of left field for the Financo Forum, though Harrison emphasized that food and restaurants are becoming more important to retail settings. Whether it’s ABC Carpet & Home or Applebee’s, service, hospitality and the experience are key ingredients.
In another break from the past, Sagra Maceira de Rosen, a strategy and investment adviser and author of “The Towering World of Jimmy Choo,” will moderate the group, instead of Harrison. But he will step up to the plate during the Q&A portion, directing questions from the audience and possibly throwing out some zingers of his own.
The 23-year-old Financo Forum will be packed with 275 industry executives, including more than 100 ceo’s. “Almost 70 percent of the attendees are at the c-suite level, compared to 50 percent last year,” Welch said. “Our international representation, about 15 percent of the audience, includes c-level executives of leading retailers from the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Canada.”
The by-invitation-only event starts at 4:30 p.m. with the panel and winds up with a cocktail hour.
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)
@Pharrell and his wife Helen Lasichanh were among the stars that came out to celebrate @rimowa’s first pop-up concept shop. The space, which is located on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, draws inspiration from airport luggage carousels and lounge areas – and features the company’s luggage and accessories. If the pop-up is successful it could pave the way for addition temporary shops throughout the world. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA)
@carineroitfeld celebrated @crfashionbook’s first calendar last night with a dinner party at Spring Place in Manhattan. Photographed by @stevenkleinstudio, the calendar takes on a fitness theme and features @joansmalls, @gigihadid, @danielle_herrington_ – pictured here – and more. “[Carine Roitfeld] wanted me to feel sexy and she wanted me to be myself and feel it out on my own and do what I felt was right,” said Herrington, aka Miss October. #wwdeye
@saintrecords and @virgilabloh last night at @americanexpress’ “A Night With Success Makers” event. “I always bring it back to community because without that I wouldn’t have the courage,” said Knowles when asked how she has gotten where she is now. Read more highlights from their conversation on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @lizdoupnik)
This Just In: Industry sources have told WWD that Anastasia Soare is rumored to be considering selling her beauty business, @anastasiabeverlyhills. According to those sources, Soare has tapped investment bank Imperial Capital to explore sale options for her eponymous beauty brand –– and with at least $340 million in net sales, this would be a big deal. Put in context of other recent transactions for makeup companies, Soare’s price tag could be in the billions if she were to sell the whole thing. #wwdnews #wwdbeauty (📷: @clint_spaulding)
@assouline’s latest book, “The Spirit of Bentley: Be Extraordinary” captures the adventurous attitudes and opulent lifestyles of @bentleymotors’ most creative owners and enthusiasts throughout the U.K. The 292-page hardcover has a section dedicated to showing its team of skilled artisans and photos of its most colorful owners, from George Bamford to designer @alicetemperley, pictured here by Aline Coquelle. #wwdeye
@google released its report on the most popular search terms this year. For fashion brands, the list was led by @gucci, the luxury brand that stunned the market last October when it pledged to stop using fur. Runner ups were @supremenewyork and @fashionnova, along with more established brands like @louisvuitton, @chanelofficial and @ysl. #wwdfashion (📷: @aitorrosasphoto)
In yet another fashion show shuffle, @elleryland is moving its show in sync with the Paris couture calendar — though the brand is still keeping one foot on the city’s ready-to-wear schedule. Their runway show in January will coincide with the launch of a new strategy: designing two main collections each year instead of four, which will then be released in four drops. “As we all know, the system needs to change. We need to show sooner to give time back to artisans and designers to do what they do best — create,” said founder Kym Ellery. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
@maxmara’s classic 101801 coat was the cornerstone of its pre-fall 2018 collection. The design team expanded the traditional double-breasted, kimono-sleeved style into a trapeze coat, lean belted styles and a peacoat and presented them in monochromatic looks – like the camel one pictured here. #wwdfashion #prefall18 (📷: George Chinsee)


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Although QR Codes are not a new idea in India, the technology has been extremely popular after COVID-19 reached the country.
As contactless experiences became more popular, QR Code technology made a resurgence, and brands rapidly realized their full potential.
Due to its rising popularity, a flood of QR Code generators and scanners appeared on the internet and in app stores for users and companies to use.
By the year 2033, QR Codes are anticipated to be quite important in the marketing environment, according to a recent study.
Numerous well-known Indian firms have already adopted this technology by including QR Codes in their marketing campaigns, and some of them have even had an impact.
Swiggy, Dunzo, Bajaj Auto, and Tata Neu are a few of the brands that have effectively used QR Codes to advertise their products and services.
QR codes have been popularly used in India these days
Recently, the quick e-commerce startup Dunzo made a sensation in mainstream advertising in India by using QR Codes.
It successfully managed a marketing campaign during the 15th IPL season.
A QR Code with the message "Inconvenience is regretted, Convenience is not" came out of nowhere as the viewers' screens crashed and blurred.
For only 20 seconds, the QR Code was visible on the screen.
When scanned, it took users to the app's landing page. Dunzo's website traffic grew ten times due to their QR Code-focused campaign.
Dunzo’s QR code campaign
Another example is the Bajaj Pulsar brand, which is renowned in India's auto sector for its creative advertising.
A QR Code that led viewers to more video content was included at the end of the television ad for the brand-new Pulsar N160.
Stay tuned for more barcode-related news at Barcode Live!
You may also like: Data Matrix Barcodes To Improve Patient Safety


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Andy Rubin's Essential Phone to debut this fall at Best Buy and Amazon on Sprint in the U.S. and Telus in Canada
On May 30, Patently Apple posted a report titled "Andy Rubin's 'Phone' was Unveiled today and he'll be talking about it Tonight with Mossberg at the Code Conference." Yesterday Reuters reported that Essential Products, the smartphone startup founded by a co-creator of the Android mobile operating system, has raised $300 million in new funding and signed up retailers to sell its first device.
The $699 phone, with a titanium and ceramic case, will compete directly against new devices from Samsung Electronics and Apple Inc this holiday season. Retailers include Best Buy, Amazon.com and carriers Sprint Corp in the United States and Telus Corp in Canada, Essential said in a statement.
The company, founded by Chief Executive Andy Rubin in late 2015, said Access Technology Ventures led the funding round, which brought its total investment raised to $330 million.
Strategic investors also included Tencent Holdings Ltd, electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn and Amazon.com, which participated via its Alexa Fund. Previous investors Redpoint Ventures and Playground Global also participated.
Bob O'Donnell of Technalysis Research said by phone that "It's going to be extraordinarily challenging. The initial specs of the phone look good, but not necessarily unique."
Essential will focus on "building a brand in the Western World" before expanding to other countries, De Masi said. It would consider sales of "low single-digit millions" of phones in its first year a success, he added, noting that production was limited by the unusual materials of titanium and ceramic. Most phones have aluminum or plastic casings.
Essential President Niccolo De Masi said in an interview with Reuters that "Over the next five to 10 years, we will have the same retail footprint and product diversity as Samsung and Apple."
With Apple's iPhone 8 launching in September and Samsung's Note 8 launching on August 23, the 'Essential' smartphone doesn't stand a chance of making a dent in the market unless they deliver a surprise feature they've yet to reveal. The Essential phone is going to be one in a sea of Android smartphones and little else.
About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.


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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - Political activism, culture and cannabis will be among the hot topics covered by comedian Chelsea Handler as part of seven live town hall events across Canada this fall.
The Canadian 'A Civilized Conversation With Chelsea Handler' tour follows a successful debut event in Saint John, New Brunswick, sponsored by Tweed and hosted by Civilized, in association with the World Cannabis Congress.
"Chelsea Handler's perspective, approach and humour galvanize and inspire her audiences wherever she goes," says Civilized Publisher Derek Riedle, who will moderate the town hall events. "I'm looking forward to sharing the stage with her again to take the pulse of the nation ahead of recreational cannabis legalization in Canada in October."
The nation-wide speaking tour is modelled after the town hall events Handler has been doing in cities across the U.S., centered around social and political activism. With a social media following of over 15 million through her social channels, she is an outspoken champion for human rights and the fight against injustice and inequality.
Handler is an American comedian, author and activist. She hosted the late-night talk show Chelsea Lately on the E! network, released a Netflix documentary series, Chelsea Does, and hosted the talk show Chelsea, also on Netflix. She is the author of five New York Times best-selling books. Handler is currently working on a documentary for Netflix covering the topic of white privilege in America. This year she also announced her plans to launch a cannabis brand.
As Founder and Publisher of Civilized, a premium, multi-platform, digital media and lifestyle brand that embraces and highlights modern cannabis culture, Derek Riedle is a leader in the cannabis industry and a sought-after speaker.
Handler and Riedle will be appearing in the following locations:
- Bella Concert Hall, Calgary, Alberta (Thursday, Sept. 20)
- Chan Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia (Friday, Sept. 21)
- Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Saturday, Sept. 22)
- St. Denis Theatre, Montreal, Quebec (Thursday, Oct. 4)
- Southam Hall, Ottawa, Ontario (Friday, Oct. 5)
- Elgin Theatre, Toronto, Ontario (Saturday, Oct. 6)
- Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Sunday, Oct. 7)
Tickets are available now at the various venues, with shows starting at 8 p.m. More information and links to the theatre box offices can be found at Civilized.life/Chelsea.
About Civilized Worldwide Inc.:
Founded in 2015, with offices in New Brunswick and California, Civilized is a premium media and lifestyle brand that embraces and highlights modern cannabis culture, reflecting the millions of adults who choose to enjoy cannabis as part of a balanced lifestyle, but don't define themselves by it. Reaching more than 2.5 million unique visitors per month, North America- wide, Civilized produces engaging content for and about people who enjoy cannabis responsibly. Other verticals include Civilized Studios, a video network available to 100+ million viewers that fills the void of broadcast quality video and original series in the cannabis space, and Civilized Events, exclusive branded experiences for both the cannabis industry and consumers – from intimate dinner parties to large-scale events like the World Cannabis Congress. For more information, visit: civilized.life.
Arrangements for the appearance of Chelsea Handler made through Greater Talent Network, LLC., New York, NY.
SOURCE Civilized Worldwide Inc. (Civilized)
For further information: Media Contact: Pamela McKay, Senior Director of Communications, Civilized, [email protected], 506-333-4466


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The IFPG Consultant knew Send Me A Trainer was was a perfect
match for his client who was a lead from IFPG Vendor Member Career
Send Me a Trainer is well positioned as a relevant franchise of
this new era and the boom in home fitness.
"With proprietary technology, low startup costs, and the
ability to work from home, this was the perfect franchise for me,"
said the new owner.
This new franchisee in North Austin Texas knew that the
explosion of the global pandemic of COVID19 brought many changes in
our lifestyle. More and more people rediscover the convenience of
doing things from home, including training. That creates a market
niche for an in-home fitness training service. Send Me a Trainer
has already successfully implemented system and a high-quality
product that is appealing to more and more customers.
Congratulations on a job well done!


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Avocor, one of the fastest-growing global interactive display companies and a leading provider of interactive video conferencingsolutions, has announced the opening of a new EMEA headquarters in Blaricum, The Netherlands. Conveniently located close to Amsterdam, Utrecht and Schiphol Airport, the new facility coincides with Avocor’s rising profile and business growth in the region.
“I’m delighted to be opening a new base in The Netherlands following a sustained period of positive sales activity across the EMEA region,” comments Till Gotterbarm, VP Product management, Partnerships and Operations EMEA at Avocor. “The central location in The Netherlands and proximity to Amsterdam Schiphol, means that we have a conveniently located showroom for existing and potential customers to come and experience a wide range of our solutions. With an opportunity to get hands-on with our full range of products and solutions, including the Avocor Series One products for Google Google Workspace and the Windows collaboration display certified for Microsoft Teams I’m looking forward to a busy few months ahead. This new EMEA HQ is just the first in a line of upcoming regional Avocor announcements so keep an eye on us for more exciting news!”


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Cryptocurrencies continue to grow all over the world, including in South America. According to a recent study released by the World Bank, only 49 percent of adults in the region that have access to banking services. In general, it is very complicated to open a new bank account because it involves bureaucratic processes and high maintenance costs.
In Venezuela, for example, the number of Bitcoin and Dash users continues to grow. Indeed, the country has the most active Dash community around the world. Caracas is one of the cities with the largest number of merchants accepting Dash in the world, even more than countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany or the United States, among others.
Due to the economic crisis that the country is currently living, citizens have moved towards digital assets. This allowed them to keep moving funds without having to worry about hyperinflation inflation or handling large sums of money in cash, which was virtually impossible.
The luckiest individuals that were able to acquire mining equipment are able to mine digital assets in a profitable way. However, the government has been shutting down small mining farms and closing imports of GPUs.
According to Local Bitcoins, the number of Bitcoin coins traded by Venezuelans has been growing over time. Indeed, in 2018, it registered a record 1,974 BTC moved in just a week using Local Bitcoins.
The country has also created the so-called Petro cryptocurrency, launching in this way the first national cryptocurrency in the world. Nevertheless, this coin has not been embraced by anyone. Although the government imposed it to certain individuals, some reports show that in the end it is not currently working.
In Brazil the situation is different. As one of the largest economies in the world, Brazil plays an imporant role in the crypto market in Latin America. There are several companies and retail stores that are accepting different virtual currencies as a means of payment.
For example, it is possible to pay at Oasis Supermercados using Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Litecoin (LTC). Another transportation company, Viação Garcia accepts payments using these digital currencies as well. Some other firms accepting crypto payments are Fasttech.com, Plaza Hotel, and many others.
Colombia is also growing its presence in the cryptocurrency market in Latin America. Due to the fact that the country is located next to Venezuela and there are thousands of migrants from this country, the crypto space is growing in Colombia. For example, the country has 27 Bitcoin ATM according to CoinATMRadar, and the number of these machines could keep growing in the future.
There are several companies that are located in Colombia and are working with digital assets and blockchain technology. Additionally, several events have been held in the country.
Peru has also experienced an increased usage in virtual currencies during the last few years. Although it is not an important country for the crypto space, there are people that continue developing different platforms and services.
For example, Enrique Cardoza, the Project Manager at Bitinka, one of the largest exchanges in the world, said that there are individuals that support the space while others not so much.
About it, Cardoza commented:
“We can say that this is being divided into two camps: there are people who are very much in favour of promoting information and spreading the world so that people can learn. [And also] there are many people who know about this and take advantage of people’s ignorance.”
Bolivia has always been restricting cryptocurrency usage in the country. Indeed, the government does not accept cryptocurrencies and is against Bitcoin. Is one of the few countries in the world, including Ecuador, in which Bitcoin is strictly banned.
Chile had also a very active cryptocurrency community, but banks have been rejecting services to crypto-related companies and users. The most important case in the country is related to the crypto exchange Buda, that banks suspended its accounts without any previous communication.
Both Chile and Argentina have been hosting important cryptocurrency events and meetings. In Chile, LaBitConf has attracted thousands of participants from all over the world interested in digital assets and distributed ledger technology (DLT).
In Argentina, Bitcoin continues to grow as well. The market expands without any problems and there are no major regulations threatening the industry. The Argentinian central bank has been supporting blockchain technology and allowed companies to expand in the country.
For example, the Banco Masventas partnered with the local company Bitex.la to send and receive transactions to other countries using Bitcoin. Users can deposit Argentine Pesos (ARS), the bank would handle them in Bitcoin through Bitex.la and receive the funds in a foreign bank account in the local currency.
Furthermore, there are several companies that are located in Buenos Aires and Córdoba that are offering services related to blockchain technology and virtual currencies.
Moreover, there is a project in the country that is called La Bitcoineta. This is a minivan that goes all over Argentina and other countries in Latin America trying to spread the world about Bitcoin and other virtual currencies.
Uruguay, one of the smallest countries in South America does not have an active community as other countries. Nevertheless, the government is analysing the possibility of launching a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that would help the country move towards a cashless society.
Cryptocurrencies seem to be growing in many different countries in Latin America. In the future, depending on the policies taken by governments across the continent, the crypto space could continue to grow and expand.


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- E-Books Negatively Affect Sleep Patterns
- March 12, 2015 | Author: Stephen J. Burg
- Law Firm: Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C. - Englewood Office
- The number of people using electronic reading devices has dramatically increased in recent years, but now research showed these e-readers may be bad for consumer health.
Following last year's holiday season, Pew Research Center found 42 percent of American adults own a tablet, like an iPad, and 24 percent own an e-book like a Kindle or Nook. These numbers are likely to rise following this gift-giving season.
However, while people of all ages in the U.S. are getting attached to their mobile devices and electronic books, researchers found the light emitted from such devices can negatively impact people's sleep patterns, HealthDay reported.
Researchers from Harvard studied the sleep patterns of people who read an iPad or other electronic reading device before bed. For 10 nights in a row, 12 young adults read for four hours before going to sleep. Half of the participants read e-books and the other half read printed books. After the first five nights, the participants switched reading methods and continued the study for another five consecutive nights using the different reading method.
The researchers found the people who read one of these devices before bed reported not feeling as sleepy and taking longer to fall asleep compared to people who read a print book. The e-book-reading participants took about 10 minutes longer to fall asleep than the other readers.
The people who read e-books also found it harder to wake up the next morning, even if they slept the same duration as people who read print books. The researchers discovered those who read e-books had less REM sleep throughout the night.
Why do e-books affect sleep?
The researchers believe the blue light emitted from e-books and other electronic devices suppresses melatonin, which is a naturally occurring hormone that promotes sleep. Blood tests uncovered the participants reading e-books delayed their nightly melatonin production by more than an hour and a half because the blue light from the devices made the brain think the sun was still up, according to HealthDay.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, melatonin is produced in the pineal gland, which is inactive during the day. When the environment becomes dark, the gland is activated and begins to produce melatonin. This is usually around 9 p.m. and lasts 12 hours. Melatonin levels during the day are very small, while they are higher and steady throughout the night.
What should consumers do?
The researchers concluded people who like to read before bed should use print books and save e-books for during the day.
"There could be serious effects if you use these devices night after night," Kristen Knutson, assistant professor of sleep medicine at the University of Chicago, who was not part of the study, said, according to HealthDay. "People need to be more mindful. Think about when you're using them. You could think of electronics as similar to junk food. Eating junk food is fine from time to time, but you have to do it in moderation."


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Uber can’t seem to get rid of its woes. In this trouble-filled year for the ride hailing service, yet another lawsuit has been filed against Uber by three Latina engineers.
The lawsuit has been filed by three female engineers: Ingrid Avendaño, Roxana Del Toro Lopez and Ana Medina, who claim that Uber discriminates against its female engineers and people of color in regards to compensation and other practices, due to which these three women have lost out on earnings, promotions and benefits. The lawsuit further states that female employees and African-American, Latino and American Indians on average get lower rankings than male, white and Asian-American workers, “despite equal or better performance.” The complaint claims that Uber’s biannual “stack ranking” system is invalid, arbitrary and forces different outcomes between employees “regardless of whether there are meaningful performance differences between individual employees within a particular peer group.”
“These three engineers are seeking to ensure that Uber pays women and people of color equally for the hard work they’ve done – and will continue to do – to help make Uber successful,” said lawyer Jahan Sagafi of Outten & Golden, which is representing the three women.
The case, which was filed in the San Francisco County Superior Court, claims that Uber has violated the California Equal Pay Act and the California Private Attorney Generals Act. In theory, the claims can result in large penalties against employers who violate wage laws. However, any damages are split, through which the state will receive 75 percent of the total, and employees will receive 25 percent of the total.
Avendaño worked with Uber as a software engineer II from February 2014 to June 2017. Del Toro Lopez worked at the company from May 2015 to August 2017. Medina, who is still working with Uber, joined the organization in March 2016 as a software engineer I.
Uber spokesman Matthew Wing declined to comment.
Uber isn’t the only company facing a lawsuit alleging gender bias. Other tech giants like Google, Oracle, Twitter and Microsoft are facing similar kinds of lawsuits.


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Charlie Bigham and I are about to make a fish pie, but not just any fish pie. Beluga caviar? Check. Alba truffles? Check. Dom Perignon? Check. The price tag is $545, but that includes delivery
In Newfoundland, cod, especially salt cod, is king. 'We love it pan fried, deep fried as in fish and chips, in chowder, baked, in fish stew, in fish cakes,' says St. John’s restaurateur Andrea Maunder
Few things dampen passion quite as swiftly as the offering of any delicacy labelled an "aphrodisiac"
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the University of Washington found that seniors with high blood levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, often lived about two years longer than those with lower levels of Omega-3.
Lobster prices are at an historic 25-year low, and Canada’s winter lobster season is on right now
I love shellfish and I love my barbecue. Last week, I combined the two to cook up three inviting recipes.
Sometimes, standing in front of the expanse of canned seafood in our local supermarket, Shelf Life is struck by a sinking feeling
With a desire to get more sustainable seafood into my diet, I recently bought a whack of one of the cheapest, tastiest and quickest water-dwelling proteins I know: Line-caught squid.
My naturally occurring low centre of gravity was the only thing preventing me from doing a header into the rich tidal mud, as thick as pudding scum (but not as tasty).
By Gerald Levitch The Washington Post has described New Orleans cuisine as “the best food in the United States.” Food critic Tom Fitzmorris subtitled his culinary history of New Orleans “The City Where Food Is Almost Everything.” And you won’t be in town very long before somebody tells you how New Orleanians “live to eat.” […]
Facebook users in the U.S. will soon be able to see which of their friends are in close proximity using a new feature the company is launching on Thursday
If tech reviewers say Samsung’s new Galaxy S5 isn’t as awe-inspiring as some of the company’s older phones that’s fine with Samsung Canada's senior vice president of mobile and enterprise
A look inside Samsung's testing facilities in South Korea and the lengthy process it goes through to make sure every aspect of the Galaxy S5 works


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Every Monday, we take a look at a significant marketing statistic and how it relates to the music industry. Today, we consider why more than half of Instagram Stories users watch with sound on. Originally sent out in our Weekly Stat email.
Consider this: 60% of Instagram Stories are viewed with sound on.
With 500 million daily viewers and more than half of content views happening with sound on, Stories offer an exciting opportunity for music discovery and promotion.
There are a number of reasons why people are turning up the volume. Among them, an increase in video content where audio is required to appreciate the context, like dance and music challenges. The music-oriented nature of Instagram users—they spend 30% more time listening to music than the general population—is another consideration.
Naturally, Instagram is well aware of its users’ interests. Since 2018, the platform has allowed people to share Spotify links in Stories, and this June, the platform launched a new feature that adds lyrics to songs, further cementing its unique role in connecting artists, influencers, and fans.


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How Bihar Became the Highest Producer of Mushrooms in India
- Pallavi Priya
- Published on 18 May 2022, 9:19 am IST
- 3 minutes read
- Bihar is producing 10% of the total mushroom grown in the country.
- According to the National Horticulture Board, the state produced 28000 tonnes of mushrooms in 2021-2022
- Bihar's achieved this feat by subsiding mushroom unit and distributing mushroom bags
- representative image
The spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus known as Mushrooms or Toadstool is one of the most commonly consumed food items in our country. From homes to street food and big hotels, all of these have several options for mushrooms on their menu. Considering the likeness for mushrooms among people and the returns received from their farming, the state as well as the Union Government have been taking steps to encourage & promote mushroom farming in India.
As a result of a decade-long expedition, Bihar has become the largest producer of mushrooms in the country. The state is contributing 10% of the total production in the country. National Horticulture Board has also recognized this feat of Bihar. According to their data mushroom production in the state crossed 28000 tonnes in 2021-2022.
During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Nand Kishore, IFS, who is currently posted as the Director of Horticulture-Cum-Mission Director in Bihar, talked about the steps that helped the state to become the largest producer of mushrooms.
A DECADE LONG EFFORT
Integrated Development of Horticulture, Bihar has been working on three levels to help the farmers produce the best mushrooms. “Around 2012, we analyzed the air condition in which mushrooms can grow the best. Keeping that in mind, we started distributing mushroom units at subsidized rates to the farmers. This step was taken for the most commonly consumed white button mushrooms”, said Mr. Kishore.
He also mentioned that subsidy was not only limited to the mushroom units but all the requisite required for mushroom production – from compost production to spawning.
With subsidies on all levels, Bihar started to produce mushrooms year-round. Apart from this, the government also took steps to grow oyster mushrooms in the state. Around 3-4 years back, a campaign was launched and mushroom bags were distributed among the landless farmers too. As a result, Bihar saw a ‘mushroom revolution’ and thousands of houses started producing them for their consumption and market as well.
The Horticulture department also introduced Mushroom huts for the growth of button as well as oyster mushroom. As a result, the state saw unexpected results in this area. As of now, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Gaya, and Nalanda are the largest producers. They are also exporting it to the nearby states which include West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh & Punjab.
FOCUS ON PROCESSING & STORAGE
The shelf life of mushrooms, especially the oyster mushroom is too low. Talking about it, Mr. Kishore said, “It can’t be stored in cold storage for too long. The farmers are under pressure to market it as soon as they get the yield. With the help of Rajendra Nagar Agriculture University, we have already started teaching the farmers how to process the mushroom and store it for long. Many are already practicing it by drying the mushroom & using it to make biscuits, pickles, etc. Further, we are planning on taking the processing ahead. Our focus is to store it for long and make items like soups etc. which will help farmers to earn more”.
The horticulture department is also focused on creating clusters of mushroom farms where groups of farmers can be involved in the process and the production could be enhanced. Mr. Kishore says that it will help the farmers to increase their bargaining capacity when they go to market it out.
END OF THE ARTICLE


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Internet sales tax faces hurdles in GOP House
- The House is in no hurry to move the Internet sales tax bill
- The bill will be considered by the House Judiciary Committee%2C where the chairman has concerns
- The bill has bipartisan support%2C but anti-tax activists are strongly opposed
WASHINGTON — A bill to allow states to collect taxes from online sales cruised through the Senate Monday with bipartisan support, but the legislation faces a slower, more complicated path through the GOP-controlled House.
The delay will give opponents of the bill more time to mobilize against it and buy House leaders more time to see if there are enough votes to pass it.
The Senate approved the bill Monday on a 69-27 vote.
A bipartisan effort is percolating in the House to advance legislation similar to the Senate bill led by Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., and joined by leading Democrats, including Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
However, the bill has to go through the Judiciary Committee where the chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., has voiced reservations about the bill's complexity and burdening business owners with the obligation to understand tax codes in other states.
"While it attempts to make tax collection simpler, it still has a long way to go," he said in a statement, suggesting that the House would seek to alter the Senate-passed bill. Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., who controls the schedule, has not set a date for a House vote on the bill.
While the legislation has broad support on the state and federal level, it faces opposition from anti-tax activists, lawmakers in states without a sales tax, and pockets of opposition within the business community. One notable opponent is eBay, which is seeking to exempt online sellers with less than $10 million in annual revenue or fewer than 50 employees from having to collect Internet sales taxes.
Fueling support for the legislation are state and local governments hungry for additional revenue. The National Conference of State Legislatures, which supports the bill, estimated that states lost out on $26 billion in sales taxes in 2012 alone. The NCSL also contends that the additional revenue generated from Internet sales will help states meet shortfalls in their federal support caused by automatic spending cuts that went in to effect this year. The National Governors Association has also endorsed the bill.
Gov. Bob McDonnell, R-Va., in particular, is advocating for passage of the bill because revenue gained from the legislation will fund transportation projects in his state and allow Virginia to circumvent a gas tax hike.
House Republicans will face pressure to oppose the legislation from Tea Party groups and anti-tax advocates, including Americans for Tax Reform. ATR President Grover Norquist sent a letter last week to senators suggesting there are "unanswered questions" about how the law will be applied.
A coalition of smaller online retailers and tech industry interests are also seeking to build opposition to the bill in the House out of concerns over compliance and how the bill could affect the digital marketplace. Opponents are hopeful to mirror a public backlash similar to a 2012 effort that successfully defeated a pair of anti-piracy bills known as SOPA and PIPA.
If a final bill is opposed by outside conservative groups, House GOP leaders will likely need a significant number of Democratic votes to pass it if they decide to bring it up for a vote.
President Obama supports the legislation and would sign it if it hits his desk. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the bill would "level the playing" field for local bricks-and-mortar small businesses that compete with out-of-state online companies.


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Facebook launches 'lite' version of Messenger overseas
NEW YORK - Facebook is launching a "lite" version of it Messenger chat app. It is aimed at emerging markets, where many people use older phones that don't have enough room to store or ability to run the full-featured application due to slower internet speeds or other issues.
Facebook said Monday "Messenger Lite" is launching on Android devices in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Venezuela. The company did not say when it would be available in other countries or on Apple devices.
There is already a "Facebook Lite" available for people whose phones are too old or simple to run the full-fledged Facebook. Messenger Lite is a similarly slimmed-down version of Messenger. It will let people send text, photos and links but won't do video calls, for example.
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Internet behemoth Google, Inc announced on Monday that it was cutting 4,000 people from the workforce of Motorola Mobility. The job cuts amount to nearly 20% of the entire workforce at Motorola Mobility.
The cuts are also the largest that Google has made since its inception. Nevertheless, shares of Google increased by 3% after the news was released. Analysts however are not completely convinced that the job cuts will be enough for Motorola Mobility to right its fortunes. The cell phone maker has not launched a hit in the smartphone market since 2004 when it released the Razr, the well received flip-phone.
Google purchased Motorola Mobility in 2011 for nearly $12.5 billion. At the time, Motorola Mobility was losing money. The acquisition by Google was the largest it has made as a company. The acquisition was made so Google could use the many patents that Motorola Mobility possesses to help with legal attacks over its Android platform and to diversify into other sectors from just its successful software business.
Wall Street however, has raised concerns over the Motorola Mobility acquisition saying that some investors have begun to worry that the world’s largest search engine has entered into unchartered waters for them and into a sector known for very low profit margins.
Motorola Mobility has only reported profits in 2 of its last 16 quarterly reports. During the recently ended quarter, the company said it lost $233 million based on revenue of $1.25 billion.


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This article is more than 1 year old
What a difference 6 months makes: UK retailer Dixons Carphone returns to profitability on the back of high online sales
Revenue from web biz surges 145%
A surge in online sales helped push Dixons Carphone into profitability during the first half of 2020 as it reported its results [PDF] for the six months ended 31 October 2020.
The tech and white goods flinger reported statutory profits before tax of £45m across its global business, compared to a loss of £86m during the same period last year.
The top line for the group was up just 3 per cent in the period, from £4.713bn to £4.859bn, and the business estimated the impact on pre-tax profit since the start of the pandemic at around £155m.
Revenue from Dixons' online business was up 15 per cent to £2.26bn, with sales surging 145 per cent, or by £800m. According to the group's interim report, this strong showing was driven by certain categories of product that performed particularly well.
Downwardly mobile? Well, things aren't looking up for Dixons Carphone's phone bizREAD MORE
At the start of the pandemic, TVs and refrigeration products proved popular as people were forced to spend prolonged periods of time at home, and were prone to hoarding food over concerns about shortages. Mirroring industry-wide trends, Dixons faced robust demand for computing and gaming products as well as fitness wearables.
This, it said, helped offset losses from its high-street retail business, which has been hit by national and regional lockdowns as well as malaise in its travel business. Dixons Carphone estimated that trading restrictions and dramatically lower travel volumes have reduced sales in these two business units by at least £320m.
It also noted that the shift to lower-margin online sales and the cost of safely reopening its bricks-and-mortar stores (including purchases of sanitiser and PPE) have reduced pre-tax profits by £155m.
There were some dark spots, particularly in Dixons Carphone's UK and Ireland mobile retail businesses, which recorded a loss of £44m. Revenues fell 54 per cent, from £830m in H1 2019/20 to £384m during the same period this year. This plunge was attributed to the March decision to close all UK Carphone Warehouse stores, which saw mobile sales shift online and to dedicated sections of Currys PC World stores.
Just six months ago, the ailing unit business a 20 per cent year-on-year drop in revenue to £1.589bn for the 12 months ended 2 May, and a loss before tax of £104m. At the time, the firm chalked this up to the impact of "COVID-19 ...on the Mobile business."
At the start of the pandemic, Dixons Carphone furloughed all in-store personnel and staff operating from its HQ. Support from the UK and Irish governments totalled £103m, which included wage subsidies for furloughed workers and business rates relief. It did not reapply for the furlough scheme during the second lockdown, which ran from 5 November to 2 December.
The tech retailer also adopted several savings measures including, as first reported by this publication, executive pay cuts and the suspension of its dividend. Despite the return to profitability, Dixons Carphone said it has no plans to restore shareholder payments. ®


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Tickets are $5 or $20 for five. The car has a 350 horsepower engine, four-speed manual transmission, AM/FM radio, side mount exhaust, knock-off wheels and is valued at more than $50,000.
It was on display at the New York State Fair and, starting Oct. 10, will be on display in front of J.C. Penney's at Carousel Center.
Tickets can be purchased online at cbasyracuse.org. All proceeds from the raffle directly benefit the school, helping to pay for teacher's salaries, financial assistance and technology. The drawing for the corvette will be held on Jan. 16 at CBA.
» Get constantly updated news from the eastern suburbs of Syracuse at East Neighbors Online


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For 95 years, Pioneer has been driving the agriculture industry forward. What started as an idea for hybrid corn in 1926 has blossomed into a world-recognized brand, owned by Corteva Agriscience, known for bringing unparalleled innovation to farmers.
Corteva Agriscience and Symborg, an expert in microbiological technologies, announced today a multi-year agreement around a microbe-based nitrogen fixation product in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina.
Corteva Agriscience today announced the creation of a new Carbon and Ecosystems Services portfolio to develop innovative products and services.
Grain prices are projected to remain high this year. While this boon to crop producers is putting pressure on livestock feeders, the upswing presents an opportunity for savvy cattle grazers.
Corteva Agriscience announces that Rezuvant™ herbicide with Arylex® active has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval and is expected to be available in time for the 2021 spring wheat crop.


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- Xavier Navarro
- Sep 4, 2007
CNG buses are a common sight in many European cities. Iveco has announced that they have already sold 3,900 units of its Irisbus CNG powertrains. The latest important buyers have been the cities of Madrid (which recently bought 60 units, for a total of 350), Seville (30 units, for a total of 80) and Burgos (2 to reach 12 units) in Spain.
- Ferrari celebrates 70th anniversary in Monterey
- Nissan Midnight Edition Titan and Frontier
- Find and compare 2017 models


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Following the release of the official Love the Progress campaign earlier this year, for which Converse dropped a collection of tie-in sneakers, the South African team has partnered with local woman inspired by the power of love, unity and community.
The campaign focuses on Girl Power, which is about challenging the norm and making your voice heard, empowering women and encouraging them to empower each other and the community in turn.
Converse selected four women to tell their stories and empower the brand as part of the campaign, including Karabo Poppy, Stacey-Lee May, Zulaikha Patel and Just Robyn, each challenging their respective spaces in their own right. This mix of women include a multi-award-winning illustrator and street artist, one of the first female spinners in the country, a spokesperson for young women in the country and a singer/dancer, respectively.
Each of these women has encountered challenges in changing the stereotypes within their fields, making waves in the process.
The Converse team has redesigned the classic Chuck 70 silhouette as part of the Love the Progress campaign, which features a soft premium leather upper, along with bold graphics scattered throughout the silhouette. The silhouette includes messages to fight for equality, which is revealed on the rubber taping on the midsole of the shoes.
The Converse Love the Progress collection is available for purchase between R1,499.95 and R1,599.95 at Converse stores and selected retailers across the country.


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Pilot Flying J's Jimmy Haslam Receives Top Alumni Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam has reason to smile: He received the University of Tennessee's (UT) top alumni award.
The recognition comes six months after a federal raid on Pilot Flying J's Knoxville, Tenn., headquarters.
Haslam was one of four recipients to be honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the school's highest honor for graduates who have "excelled in their field on the national or international stage and have brought credit to UT." The 2013 honorees received the award at a banquet on Sept. 27.
Haslam is a graduate of the University of Tennessee's College of Business Administration.
In addition to leading the family-owned travel center company, Haslam is owner of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns. His brother, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, is chairman of the university's board of trustees.
Pilot Flying J operates more than 650 retail locations and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America.


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Stock market insider selling has now reached record highs. The trend has been increasing for the last several years, but now the ratios are getting beyond ridiculous. Earlier this month, Zero Hedge reported that the insider selling-to-buying ratio is 2341 to 1. Tyler Durden wrote:
After last week saw an insider selling to buying ratio of 1,411 to 1, this week the ratio has nearly doubled, hitting a ridiculous 2,341 to 1. And while Wall Street's liars and CNBC's clowns will have you throw all your money into "leading" techs like Oracle and Google, insiders in these names sold a combined $200 million in stock in the last week alone.
Today, CNBC reported that the insider selling activity at some of the largest traded companies is at an all-time high. This can't be a good sign of things to come. The article points to the analysis of Alan Newman, a market strategist who tracks insider trading: "The overwhelming volume of sell transactions relative to buy transactions by company insiders over the last six months in key leading sectors of the market is the worst . . . ever." CNBC reported that industry leaders have a staggering 3177 to 1 insider sell-to-buy ratio: (more)


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DAILY - UPDATED
May was a good month for Kia Canada
Kia continues to push its sales higher and higher in Canada, where Korean cars are becoming more popular with each month.
According to latest reports, the Korean second largest carmaker sold 3775 cars in Canada in May 2007.
Kia’s sales have increased 22 percent when compared to last year. In the same month a year earlier, Kia sold 3093 cars on Canadian soil.
This is a very nice sales increase and proves that Kia cars are becoming better and better.
That Kia cars are quality and great to drive can be confirmed by many satisfied Kia owners around the world. But there are still many consumers out there who need to overcome a “cheap image” stigma.
With new, even more attractive models coming out soon, those people will be able to change their opinions on Korean cars for sure.
Sales By Kia Model
Ok, let’s get back to the sales number, achieved last month.
The star in the Kia’s Canadian vehicle lineup was a 7-seat Rondo crossover (or minivan)! Rondo has experienced its best ever month since it’s introduction a few months ago with a massive 60% increase over April’s figures.
A total of 954 Rondos were sold last month, while in a month earlier (in April), Kia dealers sold 595 units of Rondo.
Since its introduction in November last year, Kia dealers already moved 2700 Rondos from their lots, which means, the Rondo is becoming one of the most popular mini-MPVs in Canada.
Hopefully, Kia sales will continue to rise through the year…


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The amount of cryptocurrency spent on so-called dark net markets, where stolen credit card information and a wide array of illegal drugs can be. In total, the market has received crypto market darknet billion, and represented about 80 of all cryptocurrency transactions on darknet markets last year. Darknet Entity Interaction Statistics Q1 2022 Q1 2022 In Q4 2022, bitcoin amounting to 184 million USD was sent by darknet entities, with 177 million USD. It found that the number of markets supporting it grew from 45 in 2022 to 67 the next year. What's more, Bitcoin still dominated the darknet. WASHINGTON (Reuters) The crypto market darknet. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Tuesday on a Russia-based darknet market site and a cryptocurrency. According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the founder of Joker's Stash earned at least 60,000 Bitcoin worth crypto market darknet billion helping hackers.
Your bitcoin then goes into an escrow account maintained by the darknet market while you wait. Once the package arrives, you verify you got what. Darknet Entity Interaction Statistics Q1 2022 Q1 2022 In Q4 2022, bitcoin amounting to 184 million USD was sent by darknet entities, with 177 million USD. By A ElBahrawy 2022 Cited by 15 After removing transactions to/from Bitcoin trading exchanges, the dataset contains \sim 133 million transactions among over monopoly market link 38 million distinct. A darknet is the place of origin for online darknet markets, which work as mediators between buyers and sellers of illegal goods and services. Darknet websites. Exit scams involve the anonymous operator of a market simply disappearing - taking customers' money, in the form of cryptocurrency, with them. crypto market darknet Of Bitcoin Forfeited In Deep Web Black Market Vendor Arrest If you are not using this trading strategy, you are leaving money on the.
Shut down what they say was the monopoly link biggest illegal Darknet market place seizing 23 million euros (crypto market darknet million) worth of Bitcoin. Another Empire Market vendor claimed their cryptocurrency wallet was the target of a so-called dust attack," where someone attempts to de-. The bitcoin of the users, in fact, were on the platform's wallets and not on non-custodial or third party wallets. Empire Market, in fact, used. 5 While the users of a Darknet site can use Tor6 and Virtual Private 1 Paul Vigna & Michael J. Casey, The Age monopoly market darknet of Crypto Currency. By D Moore 2022 Cited by 230 Cryptography recreated a space for such hidden markets, both licit and illicit, except it did so in an improved form. Seller and buyer would. Named after the historical trading routes introduced by the Han Dynasty, the dark net market used an alternative payment system (Bitcoin!) and developed a.
The dark crypto market darknet web shop, which is believed to have had a turnover of crypto market darknet million for the first three months of 2022, also featured a Bitcoin Bank. Cryptocurrencies and privacy coins. Bitcoin has been the main form of payment on darknet markets since Silk Road, which is considered the first. It is one of most popular the dark web links. Marketplace Crypto Market: Are you looking some other deep web links marketplace alternative then check. Empire, the largest darknet crypto market is gone. With no explanation from its admins and no announcement from law enforcement. By A ElBahrawy 2022 Cited by 15 After removing transactions to/from Bitcoin trading exchanges, the dataset contains \sim 133 million transactions among over 38 million distinct. The digital age, of course, has given rise to digital scams. And now the fraudsters, increasingly, seem to be eyeing bitcoin, the marquee name in cryptocurrency.
Three days later, without warning, another, mid-seized illegal marketplace named Yellow Brick Market (YBM) disappeared from the dark webalong. Though Bitcoin is not monopoly darknet market controlled by the government, its previous transactions can be traced, meaning any Bitcoin spent at any darknet. A notorious darknet marketplace has reportedly disappeared with customers' deposits worth 5,000 Bitcoin. Nucleus, as the underground market is titled. According to Elliptic, a blockchain analysis company, this appears to be the fall of the darknet market leader. Elliptic's estimates show Hydra. On the dark web, anything goes, whether it be illegal drug sales, While bitcoin is the most widely used cryptocurrency, numerous darknet. A recent report by a leading crypto-payment analytic firm, Chainalysis, shows that Bitcoin transactions on the dark web grew from approximately 250 million in.
Darknet Market Wiki
It looks like you’re using an ad blocker that may prevent our website from working properly. Since 60 deep Web sites alone are nearly 40 times the size of the entire surface Web, we believe that the 200,000 deep Web site basis is the most reasonable one. Cyber forensics experts use web crawling software and intelligence platforms such as these to gather evidence from laptops, computers, and online accounts, in the form of digital artifacts. There are quite a few options how you can get your hands on those. Just hover over a product monero darknet markets and it’ll tell you if the vendor accepts Multisig, the accepted Cryptocurrencies, shipping source and other information. The small demand for SSH accesses is because this crypto market darknet protocol is most often used to connect to servers running under Linux, while attackers tend to favor Windows-based machines. When a training mission with a crew of cadets winds up caught in the middle of one of the worst battles of the war, Cal and his fellow students are officially declared dead. Enjoy all new aspects of each other 's bodies complete the process, you can now Dream. Being alerted to the fact that your information is for sale on the Dark Web is the best thing that can happen to you. The book will allow students to understand Darknet and Deep web from Depth and Law enforcement to step up their investigative skills to meet the new challenges offered by the anonymity of the Darknet. Although they seem to have coded the whole thing from scratch according to their press release.


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Every entrepreneur has dreams of turning their start-up into the next Facebook, Google, or Amazon. But unfortunately, a vast majority of those dreams never become reality. In fact, 90% of start-ups fail.
Why is that?
It takes guts to start a business. The odds are overwhelmingly stacked against you. But just because most startups fail doesn’t mean that yours will suffer the same fate. In a recent TED Talk, Bill Gross — the founder of Idealab — shared his thoughts on what he now believes is the most critical component of start-up success.
Initially, Gross believed that a start-up would only succeed if it was built from the right idea. But his experiences changed that perception. Over time, Gross grew to believe that the idea wasn’t necessarily as important as the people who powered the company.
“I never thought I’d be quoting boxer Mike Tyson on the TED stage, but he once said, ‘Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face,’” Gross said. “And I think that’s so true about business as well. So much about a team’s execution is its ability to adapt to getting punched in the face by the customer.”
Over time, Gross’s positioned evolved even further. He wondered whether having the right business model was the most essential ingredient for a start-up to have. Not happy with that assessment, Gross then focused on funding — ultimately realizing that wasn’t the most important thing either because start-ups with tons of dollars behind them fail too.
So what is the most important thing a start-up needs to become successful? The right timing.
“Timing accounted for 42 percent of the difference between success and failure,” Gross explained after analyzing 200 different companies. “Team and execution came in second, and the idea, the differentiability of the idea, the uniqueness of the idea, that actually came in third.”
The specific example Gross uses to highlight the importance of timing is the wild success of Airbnb. Many investors passed on the company because they believed that people wouldn’t be willing to rent out space in their own homes to folks they didn’t know. And who could blame them?
But because Airbnb found itself in the right place at the right time, Gross argues, the company became a wild success.
“One of the reasons it succeeded, aside from a good business model, a good idea, great execution, is the timing,” Gross said. “That company came out right during the height of the recession when people really needed extra money and that maybe helped people overcome their objection to renting out their own home to a stranger.”
Same goes for YouTube. Gross talked about starting Z.com, a company that planned to focus on online entertainment in video format. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough broadband subscribers in 1999 and 2000. In order to watch video online, users needed to install a number of codecs — something that was problematic for the average person. For these reasons, the company was eventually forced to shutter its doors in 2003.
“Just two years later, when the codec problem was solved by Adobe Flash and when broadband penetration crossed 50 percent in America, YouTube was perfectly timed,” Gross said. “Great idea, but unbelievable timing. In fact, YouTube didn’t even have a business model when it first started. It wasn’t even certain that that would work out. But that was beautifully, beautifully timed.”
Per Gross, if you want your start-up to succeed, you have to make sure its release is perfectly timed and that customers are ready for what you have to offer. Otherwise, you can build the best company in the world and nobody might ever find out about it.